This message comes with warm greetings to all friends and supporters of FOI across the
world. It remains my hope and prayer that 2011 can be another successful and fulfilling
year for FOI, and in particular that our pilgrimage to Brittany – scheduled for July 10 to 17 – can be an important and joyful event for our association. There have strong expressions of interest in the pilgrimage from many old and new friends, so there should be no problem with gathering up the necessary numbers. Metropolitan Kallistos has told me that he is very much looking forward to going to Brittany.
However I must also tell you that preparations for the pilgrimage have been complicated by some painful personal circumstances. On November 4 – shortly before I was due to make my third reconnaissance trip to Brittany – my father Wallace Clark was knocked down by a lorry
while crossing the road and suffered multiple fractures. He has remained in hospital ever since, and I have had to devote the majority of my time since then to caring for him as well has my house-bound mother June Elisabeth Clark. Wallace was making quite a good recovery until December 23 when he suffered a big relapse; he has been on breathing support, and in a critical condition ever since then. I have had to put most of my personal commitments on hold while this family crisis continues.
Painful as this situation is, I do not believe it need prevent the Brittany preparations going ahead. It may be necessary, of course, to delegate certain tasks to others during the period when I am preoccupied with family affairs. I am very grateful to Kenneth Scott Parker for the support he is already providing. In the meantime, all I can do is ask the Friends of Orthodoxy of Iona for their prayerful support, and to pray for my parents.
CBC January 15
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